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Illinois Public Media

The Fall of Saigon, 30 Years Later

April 29 is the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War - the day Saigon fell to North Vietnamese troops. Ron Yates had been in southeast Asia for several weeks reporting for the Chicago Tribune, and he headed to South Vietnam when it became clear that the long war was ending - and ending badly for US troops. He was among the last American reporters, soldiers and diplomats to flee, along with thousands of South Vietnamese families - a fraction of those who wanted to leave.

Yates (left, with camera) is now dean of the University of Illinois College of Communication. He recollects that final day with AM 580's Tom Rogers.